WiiM Ultra Streamer Preamp Review

[harkpabst]

I'll check again about running LMS on my Synology NAS. Two or three years ago I was told by member on another forum that LMS was no longer support by the Synology OS but that situation might have changed.

It might no longer run natively on Synology DiskStation, but - as has been said before - you can run it as in a Docker container if your Synology is recent and powerful enough (CPU. RAM) to run Docker.

 

[mlsstl]

I'll check again about running LMS on my Synology NAS. Two or three years ago I was told by member on another forum that LMS was no longer support by the Synology OS but that situation might have changed.

Synology doesn't directly support LMS with the programs they offer directly. Using Docker is the way around that limitation. (I have a Qnap NAS but already had a RPi running as a LMS server so didn't bother changing anything.)

 

[Overseas]

Very straightforward question:
In case Ultra is all set up, calibrated with Room Correction and USB input is selected, can I operate it without WIFI/ Wiim app control for that specific listening session ?
Do I need the remote control for that or the screen is helpful enough ? I mean to use a memory USB stick and still benefit of RC that is set up already. I guess it is a scenario to be used by some non technical family members.

 

[Matt_Holland]

No this simply isn't true.

I've used a Raspberry Pi for years before buying a WiiM ultra. It's fine and a fun project but it takes a certain level of technical sophistication that most people don't have and the experience while good is no match for a polished product like the WiiM.

It seems like " the most casual listeners" is doing a lot of work in your sentence.

What exactly distinguishes the "casual listener" from a presumably "serious" listener? Is it the genre of music they listen to? If the files are are stored or streamed? How much time they spend listening? Some combination of these?

Can't help but hear a bit of music snobbery in your assessment.

I think most people are actually quite well served by a WiiM. Better in fact than much more expensive options due to entirely competent tech specs and really well done software. You aren't tied to your computer and something like the Ultra can live in a livingroom home stereo setup comfortably and be used by less sophisticated members of the household who just want to play some music. To say nothing of the room correction and PEQ which make more of a difference in actual sound coming from the speakers than much pricier, esoteric and dubious audiophile improvements.

The people who aren't well served by WiiM have very distinct needs and likely know who they are.

They either want a more robust feature set or better electronics (if these would be audible is debatable) and they would be better served by a more sophisticated and likely custom solution.

Completely agree.

I can’t help thinking that the best solution for those with large classical collections is to use physical media.

Whilst I’m tech-savvy I couldn’t bear the hassle of managing a digital library on HDD. The risk of data corruption alone should be terrifying.

Roon is probably the only interface and library management I would consider, but as I can access everything I want from Amazon Music I simply stream from that.

I do miss having a physical collection though.

 

[testp]

Very straightforward question:
In case Ultra is all set up, calibrated with Room Correction and USB input is selected, can I operate it without WIFI/ Wiim app control for that specific listening session ?
Do I need the remote control for that or the screen is helpful enough ? I mean to use a memory USB stick and still benefit of RC that is set up already. I guess it is a scenario to be used by some non technical family members.

i use wiim ultra without internet by using hotspot and my PEQ remains in effect, the unit also switches to whatever input has a signal if no other have, not sure about usb though (have used room correction and at the end its essentially peq filters so yes they will stay in effect at the inputs you choose to apply them)

 

[Overseas]

Yeah, but you still used hotspot... I mean NO internet, no app.

 

[testp]

Yeah, but you still used hotspot... I mean NO internet, no app.

no.. if i use the device, hotspot is off as well. device works without hotspot/wifi.

if you mean can i use the app when hotspot/wifi is off, then no.

you can keep the internet off -> use one phones hotpsot (wifi/internet off) -> let wiim and your another phone with the wiim app connect to it -> then no internet is provided, yet you can control the device with the app as if internet is provided (expect no internet streaming).

if you want to change peq/eq without hotspot/wifi -> save them to the wiim remote as presets.

 

[mlsstl]

Completely agree.

I can’t help thinking that the best solution for those with large classical collections is to use physical media.

Whilst I’m tech-savvy I couldn’t bear the hassle of managing a digital library on HDD. The risk of data corruption alone should be terrifying.

Roon is probably the only interface and library management I would consider, but as I can access everything I want from Amazon Music I simply stream from that.

I do miss having a physical collection though.

Large physical collections, whether LP or CD, have their own issues with organization. Regardless of how you organize them -- composer, artist, conductor, orchestra, subgrenre, whatever -- there are going to be albums that contain tracks that don't fit nicely into your chosen method. For example, I have classical albums with multiple different artists, or composers, or orchestras, etc. "Sampler" albums are a great example of this -- Gypsy Classics anyone? Or under which composer do I file "Rimsky-Korsakov and Moussorgsky"? There are many more examples in my own collection.

Then you want to play the one piece that you enjoyed a few years ago but can't remember exactly which album it was on. Your only option is pull albums off the shelf until you stumble across the one you want. Tagging a digital library can take a bit of work, but you only have to do it once and then things can be much easier to find in my experience.

 

[Gorgonzola]

It might no longer run natively on Synology DiskStation, but - as has been said before - you can run it as in a Docker container if your Synology is recent and powerful enough (CPU. RAM) to run Docker.

I suspect my Synology is not powerful enough, but thanks for mentioning Docker.

 

[harkpabst]

I suspect my Synology is not powerful enough, but thanks for mentioning Docker.

My DS218 (not the DS218+) is definitely not powerful enough.

 

[Overseas]

no.. if i use the device, hotspot is off as well. device works without hotspot/wifi.

Great. In this case, is the screen menu enough or do I need the remote ? I do not understand from shops whether remote is included in standard Ultra.

 

[testp]

Great. In this case, is the screen menu enough or do I need the remote ? I do not understand from shops whether remote is included in standard Ultra.

nice bluetooth remote is included, cant comment on touchscreen functionality bc ive used it once, swiped for different inputs.. thats about it. i like to keep it clean for some vu_action

you can scroll through the pdf manual for most of the functionality

 

[Good Vibes]

Hi

I have had my Ultra for several months now and my appreciation for it and its capabilities continues to grow. Yesterday I became aware of a feature that I both like and dislike. When setting up a new TV in a guest room, I noticed a text box saying “WiiM Ultra” in the Home Screen and when I clicked on it I had access to all the music connected to the Ultra via my USB stick. I had no idea that was possible and whilst I think it is a good feature, I would rather my young children didn’t have access to explicit Hip Hop/Dancehall etc. I checked every TV and they can all access it.

I’ve had a look around the app and on the TV’s but can’t find a way to stop them from having access. Can anyone tell me if it’s possible?

Thank you.

 

[harkpabst]

Delete the offending tracks?

 

[kyuu]

I’ve had a look around the app and on the TV’s but can’t find a way to stop them from having access. Can anyone tell me if it’s possible?

Without knowing the make/model of the TVs it's rather difficult to know.

It's also possible you could use firewall rules to prevent the TVs from being able to get traffic from the Wiim, but you'd have to have appropriate network equipment and know how for that.

You could also just delete the offending tracks, as suggested above. Or alternatively, have another USB stick that has your collection minus the offending tracks that you only swap out when the mood to listen to the offending music strikes you.

 

[Good Vibes]

I thought there would be a simple way to have the USB only accessible to the Ultra. I might contact WiiM and make a request to see if it’s something they could do in a future update. Until then it looks like I’m going to have to have a separate “Daddies secret USB” stick.

I really like the feature though and it’s making me want to buy another system for the kitchen now I know I can easily access my tunes via the TV.

 

[testp]

Hi

I have had my Ultra for several months now and my appreciation for it and its capabilities continues to grow. Yesterday I became aware of a feature that I both like and dislike. When setting up a new TV in a guest room, I noticed a text box saying “WiiM Ultra” in the Home Screen and when I clicked on it I had access to all the music connected to the Ultra via my USB stick. I had no idea that was possible and whilst I think it is a good feature, I would rather my young children didn’t have access to explicit Hip Hop/Dancehall etc. I checked every TV and they can all access it.

I’ve had a look around the app and on the TV’s but can’t find a way to stop them from having access. Can anyone tell me if it’s possible?

Thank you.

interesting...
if your plan was that some TV's should not have access to Wiim you could also connect these TV's to your WiFi guest_network or vice-versa., im thinking this is causing it, being in the same network.

but if they are all connected through Lan, then sure, you should also look into the router config -> http: 192.168.1.1 usually,
there are advanced settings where you can make specific changes, sure..
also for quest_network there should be option whether devices_can_see_each_other, <- i would choose that network for your Wiim + whatever device you want to be seen together IF your TV's are connected through LAN.

 

[Romario]

All network players play stuff from the network

 

[Good Vibes]

interesting...
if your plan was that some TV's should not have access to Wiim you could also connect these TV's to your WiFi guest_network or vice-versa., im thinking this is causing it, being in the same network.

Good day to you. The answer was staring me in the face all along. Thank you!

Yes, the guest bedroom I bought the new TV for is connected via Ethernet and it still has access but I’m not worried about that. Good to know there are advanced settings to solve the issue if needs be. Thanks again.

 

[Sokel]

Large physical collections, whether LP or CD, have their own issues with organization. Regardless of how you organize them -- composer, artist, conductor, orchestra, subgrenre, whatever -- there are going to be albums that contain tracks that don't fit nicely into your chosen method. For example, I have classical albums with multiple different artists, or composers, or orchestras, etc. "Sampler" albums are a great example of this -- Gypsy Classics anyone? Or under which composer do I file "Rimsky-Korsakov and Moussorgsky"? There are many more examples in my own collection.

Then you want to play the one piece that you enjoyed a few years ago but can't remember exactly which album it was on. Your only option is pull albums off the shelf until you stumble across the one you want. Tagging a digital library can take a bit of work, but you only have to do it once and then things can be much easier to find in my experience.

I use different playlist for the "Various" ones.
Even if I didn't though the "find" magic button at foobar is instant even you slightly remember what you're looking for.
And I mean instant, no matter the size of your library.